USA Grand Prix 2012 - part 2

Any idea of when the designated parking lots areas for shuttle will be announced? Looking right now to book a room on the East side of San Antonio and I would like to be able to get an idea of the roads needed to get to the school bus......

They've announced shuttle lots in downtown Austin at Waterloo Park near 15th & Red River St, and at the Texas Exposition & Heritage Center on Decker Lane in far east Austin. there's been on-and-off talk of a shuttle lot south or southwest of the circuit to catch people like yourself staying on the south side, but all has been quiet from COTA for some time. However I'm pretty sure they've acquired a large piece of land a couple of miles east of Elroy on FM 812. What will they do with it? Who knows? They aren't saying.

Any idea of when the designated parking lots areas for shuttle will be announced? Looking right now to book a room on the East side of San Antonio and I would like to be able to get an idea of the roads needed to get to the school bus......

Among Austinites, which would you recommend in terms of (a) number of parking spots and (b) ease of egress after the event?

Oy. That's a tough one. Both have fewer parking spaces than advertised. Both face challenges, but I suppose downtown has better access. It's also the choice if you plan to go downtown after track sessions. We also think there will be another lot somewhere, probably a tract COTA just bought a couple of miles east of Elroy in FM 812, but COTA isn't talking. Maybe they have other plans for that land.

That seems like a lot of people to try to funnel through two locations.

Yes, 72000+ people (per COTA's plan) is a hell of a lot of people to try to move that way.

Oy. That's a tough one. Both have fewer parking spaces than advertised. Both face challenges, but I suppose downtown has better access. It's also the choice if you plan to go downtown after track sessions. We also think there will be another lot somewhere, probably a tract COTA just bought a couple of miles east of Elroy in FM 812, but COTA isn't talking. Maybe they have other plans for that land.

Yes, 72000+ people (per COTA's plan) is a hell of a lot of people to try to move that way.

I think I'm going to the track Saturday, but I don't think I even want to try on Sunday.

I got that email, which I found puzzling since, because I don't have a ticket for Premium Seating, I can't park there. Right?

Well, that's what they said...but we know how that has gone so far.

BTW, did a little research...The next most expensive F1 weekend parking passes we could find were at Monaco & Silverstone ($100), and Spa ($70)....and 4-day parking passes for the Indy 500 and USGPs at Indy were $50. RVs park there for $120.

BTW, did a little research...The next most expensive F1 weekend parking passes we could find were at Monaco & Silverstone ($100), and Spa ($70)....and 4-day parking passes for the Indy 500 and USGPs at Indy were $50. RVs park there for $120.

He was kidding, but you never know. We were thinking you could probably add bug spray, sunscreen, and rental chairs to that list.

They said last night they don't plan to release the list of allowable/disallowed items until at least the middle of next month. The reason? They say they want it to be fresh on everyone's minds. I think they're delaying until it's too late to react to it.

Good luck. The Tavo widow's have dedicated their lives to bashing the current COTA group.

To be clear, I am ok with that and may even have a dog in that fight or not. Public forums should be all about free speech, but the title of the topic is "USA Grand Prix 2012" not "COTA ownership are mean baddies!". I'd like to talk about the race. I've lurked on Autosport for well over ten years. I screamed out loud in my office when I saw the impossible headline of the race coming to my hometown and started a savings account that day to attend. This City of Austin has so much to gain and so much share with the world. The track is going to be spectacular and the Formula 1 circus is going to have a blast in Austin. It's a shame that more than half of the posts under this topic are about the business/political side of the race.

any chance we could have two threads here? one for people excited about the race and another for people that want to talk about how much they hate the COTA ownership? it's just a suggestion.

I've thought that for several months now. I'm happy to bash or defend the COTA folks as seems appropriate, but it is sort of cluttering up our discussions and anticipation of the race itself and the awesome track that is being built (without regard to whoever designed, paid for, built or is marketing said track).

...the suit says, “Defendants COTA and Steve Sexton [COTA's President] wanted the MotoGP race, but did not want to have to pay 3four as the promoter. So, while purportedly negotiating with 3four, COTA was actually scheming to side-step 3four and deal directly with Dorna so it could pay less by cutting 3four out of the picture. Through tortious interference and fraud, COTA and Sexton encouraged Dorna to breach and purportedly terminate 3four's agreement to avoid the obligation to pay 3four. 3four sues for what it is owed as the exclusive promoter of MotoGP in Texas.”

...

Schwantz's spokesperson attributed this statement to Schwantz: “I have devoted over 25 years of my life to MotoGP, the premier motorcycle road racing world championship. I spent four of those years bringing MotoGP to Texas, my home state. As a result, MotoGP agreed in 2011 to host an annual race at Austin's Circuit of the Americas [COTA] track. I'm sorry to say that COTA is now attempting to unlawfully force me out of this project. I believe COTA has committed fraud in doing so. Earlier today, I took legal action against COTA. I was forced to file this lawsuit in order to protect my rights, my reputation, and MotoGP itself. I want to see MotoGP come to Texas, but I cannot allow COTA to take advantage of me. More important, I will not sit idly by while a newcomer to racing discredits the sport I love.”

“It makes no sense for Mr. Schwantz to pursue legal action in this matter. We were informed by DORNA, the organization that holds the rights for the MotoGP racing series, that Mr. Schwantz has no contract to promote a MotoGP race in Texas,” Circuit spokesperson Julie Loignon said. “To be clear, Mr. Schwantz never had an agreement to conduct a MotoGP race at Circuit of The Americas, and to our knowledge, he has no agreement to conduct an event at any Texas racetrack. Perhaps, that is why he is reacting this way, out of embarrassment, and is making false claims to the court and media.“We know race fans would love to see a MotoGP event at the Circuit, and it is good to know that the door is open to make that happen at our new world-class venue in Austin.”

Strangely, though, Dorna seemed to think there was one back in Apr2011. Here's Moto GP.com's announcement from back then:

"Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, S.L. said: “We are delighted to be adding the Circuit of the Americas™ to the MotoGP calendar. It’s an honour to expand our Championship to Texas, which has a rich history of producing World Championship riders. We have had a wonderful and special relationship with Kevin (Schwantz) for 20 years and often talked about a mutual dream of increasing the popularity of MotoGP in the U.S. and raising our already successful worldwide profile. Now, with what Tavo Hellmund (Managing Partner of Full Throttle Productions) is doing in Austin, we have realised that situation and are looking forward to this new venture together. The ten-year agreement is a sign of our confidence and commitment to the future success of MotoGP racing in Austin.”

I was at the press conference for the announcement. The COTA boys were all smiles. Seemed like they thought there was a contract too.

Montreal is on the outside of the track, thus adds length.
Austin is inside and cuts off part of the regular track, thus shorter.
Of course Monaco is the shortest but for a new design, I'm pleased to see minimum distances before and after the boxes.